I think sometimes we are way to hard on ourselves when it comes to money.
We make a budget, set a goal, tell ourselves we are going to do better, and then life happens. An unexpected bill comes up, we spend more than we planned, or we just have a month where nothing seems to go quite right.
That does not mean you failed.
We need to get better at noticing the small wins too.
Maybe you paid $25 extra on a credit card. Maybe you packed your lunch instead of eating out. Maybe you walked away from something you really wanted to buy. Maybe you finally sat down and looked at your bills instead of putting it off.
Those are wins.
They may not feel like much at the time, but those little choices really do add up.
Do not let one small setback stop you from continuing to work toward your goal. Give yourself a little grace.
It is easy to think, “ Well, I already messed up, so what is the point?” But one setback does not undo everything you have already done.
Figure out what happened, make an adjustment, and keep going.
You do not have to be perfect with money. None of us are. You just have to keep trying to make better choices when you can.
So celebrate the small stuff. Paying a little extra. Saving a little more. Saying no to something you did not need. Even just being willing to look at your finances and make a plan.
Progress is still progress, even when it feels small.
Sometimes talking it through with someone can make things feel a little more manageable. If you are struggling with debt and are not sure what your next step should be, Consumer Credit of Des Moines offers free and confidential counseling.
Lisa Ohnemus
Director and Certified Credit Counselor
Consumer Credit of Des Moines